Author name: The Alibaba.com Team

Break bulk is the shipment of oversized or non-standard size and shape goods, requiring labor-intensive handling & specialized equipment.

Customs Bond is a type of financial guarantee required for certain imports to ensure payment of duties and help streamline customs clearance.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) in logistics is a contract defining service quality and performance metrics between provider and client.

The Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) is an ad-valorem fee at 0.3464% of imported goods’ value, imposed by U.S. Customs for processing of imports.

A Centralized Examination Station (CES) is a private facility designated by CBP for efficient physical examination of imported or exported cargo.

Bulk cargo refers to loose and unpackaged items, including raw materials shipped in large quantities. It is categorized into liquid bulk and dry bulk.

High cube containers (HC) are 9.6‘ tall & come in 40’ or 45‘ lengths. They offer more cargo space than standard containers due to their extra height.

A Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) is a standard metric for gauging container volume, measured in terms of 20-foot-long containers. 2 TEU = 1 FEU

Chargeable weight in freight shipping is calculated based on the greater of the shipment’s gross weight or volume, balancing space and weight costs.

The Commerce Control List (CCL) categorizes dual-use items (commercial and military-use goods) to confirm U.S. export license requirements.

Blank sailing is an ocean carrier’s intentional cancellation of a port call or voyage of a fixed rotation due to demand or operational efficiency.

An Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) is an entity in global trade approved by Customs for meeting WCO security standards & granting customs benefits.

An Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) classifies U.S. dual-use exports in the CCL with alpha-numeric codes, identifying licensing requirements.